This week for my spooky short story countdown, I focused my reading on Poe’s collection of works! I have never read Poe before (and if I have, I honestly can’t recall any of it…) so this was a fun week. I knew that he was spooky and a major influence in modern genres and it was great to get to read and understand why.

Here is what I read this week!

The Tell Tale Heart

It was a great story to ease into the week with and to begin my exploration of Poe!

The narrator is malicious and sneaky. He plots the murder he commits but the repercussions lead him to madness.

The writing is very quick and to the point which was fitting for this story. It felt more psychological than Lovecraft’s vivid imagery.

The Cask of Amontillado

No matter what you do, never follow Poe into the cellar for a cask of Amontillado… you might not make it out.

I know a lot of people have read this particular story, but I hadn’t and I am so glad that I am reading it now. It was full of creep and malice.

Poe really is exceptional at infusing his stories with terror and humanity. Although his character was doing something heinous, there were moments where he questioned his actions. Of course, the cruelty won out but the contrast of these emotions is so enticing to read.

The Masque of the Red Death

What lengths would you go to to escape a Red Death? The Prince in this story enclosed himself in a castle and locked the rest of the infected world out. He filled his life with parties and gaiety that would please all his dearest friends.

In the end it wasn’t enough.

Poe infused this story with vivid imagery and pain regarding the Red Death. It was tough to read of such cruelty on the part of the Prince. But definitely one to challenge thoughts regarding good and evil.

The Black Cat

The cats are back with Poe’s The Black Cat. At first I didn’t expect the story to take a twisted turn… which it then promptly did. It was jarring and very disturbing!!

Overall I enjoyed the story. It goes along with the theme I noticed in a different story earlier this week… this sense of good and evil within our minds. It is such an intriguing thought and one that challenges my reading.

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I really enjoyed reading Edgar Allen Poe this week. I know that I have many more stories to explore that he put out into the world and I plan to do so.

But this coming week, our last week until Halloween, will feature Grimm’s Fairy Tales! I’ll do my best to find you the spookiest Grimm tales.